Attention to excellence

CONEXION: St. Mary's University faculty member Richard Cardenas was one of 11 people nationwide to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. HELEN L. MONTOYA/hmontoya@conexionsa.com

Richard Cardenas shies away from the spotlight. He'd prefer to talk about his students' accomplishments rather than his own.

But as one of 11 recipients nationwide to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, Cardenas has had his share of attention over the last few weeks. He recently returned from Washington D.C. where he received his award and met President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as the other recipients of the award.

In addition to being honored at the White House, the winners get $10,000 to advance their mentoring efforts.

“I was shocked that I won,” he said. “Especially when I saw the others, because they were funded by (the National Science Foundation) and all these $100,000 and $200,000 programs.”

Cardenas was singled out for the constant mentoring he does with his students and for his involvement with the Fiesta Physics program at the St. Mary's.

Cardenas said he was inspired to become a mentor because he lacked that kind of support as an undergraduate at the University of California at Berkley. Now, as an associate professor at St. Mary's, he sees mentoring as part of his teaching mission.

“I figured it was something important, especially with the students that we serve,” he said. “They aren't really aware of the opportunities available to them. They feel like either they won't qualify or they will pick other students. I always tell them just try — you never know what is going to happen.”

Student Jessica Esquivel said taking Cardenas' freshman physics class changed her career path. The senior decided to double major in electrical engineering and physics because of that class.

“If it weren't for Dr. Cardenas being a great teacher, I would have missed out on what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Esquivel said. With help from Cardenas, Esquivel has secured an internship and hopes to go on to graduate school at Columbia University.

“To see them do well, to see kids from the Valley who are first generation (college) students who end up going to do research at Notre Dame is really great,” he said. “Those kinds of stories make it worth it.”

In addition to mentoring his students, Cardenas was recognized for his involvement with Physics Fiesta, a nine-year-old program that makes physics presentations to local fourth and fifth-graders. The popular program ties its demonstrations to the lessons the students are learning in their science classes.

“When you have a person like Richard Cardenas working in the community with physics, he's planting the seed of excitement and comprehension in the minds of so many young people in our community,” said Winston Erevelles, the dean of St. Mary's School of Science, Engineering, and Technology. “For Richard to go out in the community that surrounds us is very significant. We don't sit in the middle of a privileged neighborhood; here we are dealing with students who have real need.”

Cardenas said it's important that this program helps his students reach out to the community and be a part of it.

“What we want is to not just make them become scientists and engineers, but we want them to have an impact on their communities as well,” he said. “In fact, I'm really happy when they become teachers. But our point isn't just to become really good physicists but to have a desire to serve.”

Though he's not one to draw attention to the work he does with his students or to the grants he's won for the university, Cardenas said he appreciates the recognition.

“You do things because you want to do them not because someone forced you to do them and to be recognized is always nice.”